Lock for doors.



G. W. WELLS.

LOOK FOR DOORS.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1915.v

1,16,5M. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 7 & i k-4';

arr oooo c1 ing to the best mode of procedure so far de GEORGE W. WELLS, 0F AMES BURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOOK FOR DOGRS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amesbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looks for Doors, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of the invention is the provision of a lock especially adapted for use in connection with a vehicle door and jamb, the latch and means for releasing the same preferably being so combined with the door that a light pressure of the hand in grasping the door will release the latch from the catch and allow the door to swing upon its hinges to an open position; and the catch, the latch and operative means in connection with the same being so constructed and combined that the door when closed will automatically and securely be locked in position.

The invention consists in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts as herein set forth and claimed.

The accompanyingdrawing illustrates one embodiment of the invention in connection with a well known type of vehicle door, the same being constructed and applied accordvised for the purpose. However, the invention may be applied to other than vehicle doors and by other modes involving unsubstantial changes in construction and in the location of parts.

Figure 1 is an outside view of a vehicle body having a hinged door, the door jamb in this example supporting the catch, and the latch and the means for releasing the same beingapplied to the door. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the door shown by Fig. 1 and parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the catch,

- latch, and operating mechanism abstracted from the door and jamb as seen looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of Fig. 1 taken on line Referring to the figures, the letter A designates a vehicle door having hinges B B, an automatic locking latch and catch mechamsm C seated in the door and jamb, and a push button releasing means I) projecting at the top edge of the door.

E is the door jamb supportingthe spring catch F, which latter is in line with the rotarry latch G. A casing for the latch comprises the base H perforated at l. to receive a screw J, two wings K K with holes L L to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. id, 1916..

Application filed February 11, 1915. Serial No. 7,643.

receive the shaft M upon which the rotary latch Gr freely turns, and a face plate N having holes 0 to receive screws. The casing may be made of a single piece of sheet metal cut to the proper shape and the wings and face plate bent to lie in planes substantially at right angles to the base, as shown.

The teeth P of the rotary latch are tangentially disposed to a circle struck from the shaft M as a center, and each tooth has a beveled surface Q at the end which allows the teeth easily to pass the ends of the catch when the latch is rotated in one direction. A plate spring R has one end secured to the base by rivets S and the free end is located within a notch T made in the face plate, the end of the spring normally bearing against the surface U of a tooth, and locking the latch so it cannot rotate as move the hands of a clock, but allowing it to rotate in the opposite direction when the catch is free from the latch, that is, when the door is open.

The mechanism for releasing the spring R from the latch comprises a push button V movable within a retaining casing W secured in the door, a push rod X and a plunger Y loosely fitting and movable within holes Z in the wings of the casing. The plunger has a bottom head 1 limiting the upward movement of the same, and a top head 2 against The body of the plunger between the wings is reduced in diameter and fashioned to have a beveled or inclined surface 4: which frictionally bears against a boss 5 on the plate spring R, the boss being formed by striking up the metal of the spring plate so as to present a convex surface or consisting of a separate piece of metal secured to the plate spring. Obviously, pressure upon the push button will force the plate spring out of the path of the teeth of the rotary latch and allow the latch to rotate freely. The helical spring returns the plunger and push button to their normal relative positions when pressure is removed from the push button, and the end of the plate spring again engages the rear surface of a tooth and locks the latch.

The spring \catch F consists of a steel plate spring having one end perforated and secured to the jamb by screws 6 and the opposits end bent to form a hook 7 which is adapted to interlock with the rear surface of any teeth at the rotary latch. The body or curved line so as to occupy a recess 9 in the jamb, where it has space for unobstructedv bending movements, forwardly to engage a tooth of the latch and rearwardly when struck by a tooth of the latch as the door is closing.

The door islocked when the parts occupy the relative positions shown by Fig. 4'. Pressure upon the push button unlocks the latch so it can rotate and turn away from the end of the catch when the door i'sswung outwardly upon its hinges. door a tooth of the latch strikes the end of the catch, that is, the outer surface of the hooked portion, and forces the same back into the recess and at the same time the latch rotates and when the door reaches the limit of its travel the spring will return to its normal position and the hook becomes seated back of a tooth, as shown by Fig. 4. The latch is thus locked so it cannot rotate in either direction.

, Obviously, the description and drawing liable to become inoperative.

While I have shown the latch and the operating mechanism on the door and the catch on the jamb, they may be oppositely located when so desired. The invention also may be embodied in connection with other than vehicle doors. Furthermore, the location of the releasing means may be changed yvithout constituting a substantial depar' ure.

What I'claim is:

1. The combination with'a door andjamb, of a yielding catch, a rotary latch having teeth, a plate spring having one end fixed and the other movable for bending the sprlng plate out of the path of a tooth of the latch and locking the latch, and means for releasing the latch.

2. The combination with a door and j amb, of a yielding catch, a rotary latch with teeth pro ect1ng from a circumferential surface, a plate spring the free end of which is adapted to bear against different teeth whereby the latch is normally locked against rotation in one direction, and means for releasing the latch.

3 The combination of a door and jamb, a ylelding catch on one of said members, a rotary latch with teeth on the other memher, a spring which automatically locks the latch against rotation in one direction, and push button'mechanism for temporarily releasing the latch so it can rotate and become disengaged from the catch.

4. The combination with a door and jamb,

of a yielding catch supported by thejamb, a

spring locked rotary latch supported by the In closing the door, and a push button mechanism for releasing the latch; the push button being located at the top edge of the door.

5. The combination of a casing; a rotary latch supported by a shaft in connection with the casing; a locking spring secured to the casing, one end of which engages atooth and locks the latch so it cannot rotate in one direction; and means for moving the spring from the path of the latch so it may rotate in both directions.

6. The combination of a casing; a rotary latch with teeth; a shaft in connection with the casing for supporting the latch; a locking spring secured to the casing; and means adapted when pushed in one direction to move the spring out of the path of the latch.

7 The combination of a casing; a rotary latch with teeth; a locking spring secured to the casing; and a spring actuated plunger for moving the spring; said plunger having .a recess within which a part of the spring is normally located.

8. The combination of a casing; a rotary latch with teeth; a plate spring for locking the latch; and a plunger having a beveled surface for moving the spring.

9. The combination of a casing having perforated wings; a rotary latch with teeth, a shaft on which the latch is journaled supported by the wings; a plate spring with a having circumferential teeth disposed tangentially to the axis of the latch, a plate spring anchored at one end and the free end normally bearing against the back of a tooth of the latch, the end of said yielding catch bearing against an opposite surface of a tooth when the door is locked, whereby the latch when locked cannot rotate in either di rection, and means for moving the free end of the plate spring temporarily out of the path of the teeth so that the latch can rotate in one direction; the latch being unable to pass the yielding catch only when the said catch has been moved from its normal position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. WALKnR, HARLAN P WELLs. 

